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www. sneec. weebly. com about how manufacturers may share or use personal data, with concern increasing from 26 % in 2022 to 37 % in 2026.
Data protection remains a top concern, with fears of hacking, unauthorized access or surveillance increasing across segments. Concern about data protection rose from 26 % in 2022 to 29 % in 2026, and surveillance concerns climbed from 16 % to 19 % among all homeowners between 2022 and 2026.
Most homeowners still do not know how manufacturers use smart thermostat data, with 55 % of respondents in 2026 reporting they have little to no understanding of how their data is used, underscoring a persistent transparency gap.
PRIVACY AS A BARRIER— AND AN OPPORTUNITY
The 2026 Sensi Data Privacy Study reinforces a trend identified over the past three years: privacy is now a primary decision factor for consumers evaluating smart home purchases, with increased consumer demand for privacy first innovation.
Homeowners who avoid purchasing smart thermostats cite lack of trust in data practices as a leading reason. Among non owners, only 58 % are confident manufacturers use customer data responsibly, versus 73 % of smart thermostat owners( 2024). That trust gap suggests a key barrier to adoption among prospective buyers.
Among homeowners, research into privacy policies remains low, suggesting many consumers feel they lack clear or accessible information. Just 13 % of owners in 2022 reported researching a manufacturer’ s data privacy policy before buying a smart thermostat; that fell to 8 % in 2026, indicating consumers still lack clear, accessible privacy information at the point of purchase.
A growing share of homeowners say they would replace their existing device if a more secure, privacy-first option became available. In fact, 7 in 10 homeowners( 70 %) say they would replace their thermostat for a more privacy focused option, signaling strong demand for devices that pair energy savings with stronger data protections.
“ Consumers are telling manufacturers exactly what they need, which is simplicity, transparency and control,” said O’ Toole.“ The companies that step up will define the future of smart home technology.” l FON
22 MAY 2026 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www. fueloilnews. com